Coming on the heels of record funding for Kentucky’s K-12 schools, Representative Bobby McCool announced Paintsville High School will receive $2.5 million to launch a new center designed that connects rural students with remote jobs and career pathways in high-demand industries.
Paintsville High School is a utilizing space on Main Street to create the learning center. The goal is to equip high schoolers with the knowledge and skills needed for careers in tech-related fields they may not have had on their radar or available in the region—from machine learning, coding, and cybersecurity to graphic design and entrepreneurship.
“When we talk about the future world of work, one benefit of the pandemic is it showcased the ability to work anywhere. We have the talent here in the mountains and across coal country. We just need to tap into their potential,” said McCool, who represents Johnson, Martin, and part of Pike counties. “That’s why we’re taking a proactive approach to developing and retaining talent right here in Eastern Kentucky. Any of these can be our commonwealth’s next big industry, and I look forward to seeing what’s on the horizon.”
The initiative offers innovative programming that is personalized to each student’s specific interests and focus area, so they are set up for success and can find a good-paying job quickly after graduating. Through this center students can gain hands-on learning opportunities, like learning how to grow and scale a business, alongside many businesses and employers.
The school district’s superintendent, David Gibson, highlighted how the immersive learning space is a solution that benefits both learners and employers.
“I’m thankful for Rep. McCool and the legislature’s faith and investment in Paintsville Independent Schools and our community. With the severe decline in the coal mining industry, we need to do something that removes many of the barriers our young people face when they look to join the workforce. This concept is something never seen before in Paintsville Independent Schools or even in this part of the state. Our hope is to serve as a model for the region and other rural areas nationwide.”
Paintsville’s new center joins a list of initiatives launched to make the region a place for young people to live and work remotely. Paintsville High School has additionally offered innovative programs such as the Appalachian Graphic Design Fellowship Program, a similar program for Kentucky students to learn about jobs in graphic design.
Construction is set to move forward this summer with the facility set to open in the next two years. The $2.5 million underscores the House Majority Caucus’s commitment to educating the next generation of Kentuckians.